10 Ways To Reduce Your Household Energy Use In October

Whether or not I approve, October is here. I am a heat seeker and summer lover, so it is hitting me hard. One big way that it hits me is with my energy bill.

Recently my husband and I were reviewing our budget and our electricity bill was a topic of conversation. Although we want to save electricity for many eco-friendly reasons, financial reasons are always a good motivation as well.

10 Ways To Reduce Your Household Energy Use In October

Cover Bare Floors.

This one I only heard of recently. If you have poor insulation in the flooring of your home, adding rugs will increase heat retention and lower your need to turn up the heat. It also feels warmer for your feet.

Raise the Temperature Slowly.

As tempted as I am to instantly jack up the temperature when I wake up, increasing the temperature slowly will use less energy.

Even One Degree Makes a Difference.

My husband first suggested dropping the temperature by just one degree on our thermostat. Initially I was concerned, but in reality, I didn’t even notice the change. This makes a huge difference in our energy consumption.

Dress For The Weather and Sleep Better.

That’s right, it’s fall. Bring out the sweaters and wear slippers. Dressing for the weather will decrease your need to raise the thermostat. Don’t forget to keep your kids warm too. Toddlers love slippers and sleepsacs work great for babies. You also sleep better in a cool room, so be sure to turn the furnace down at night.

Switch Your Bulbs.

ENERGY STAR® LED light bulbs will use less energy than your standard incandescent bulbs. Investing in them now will not only save energy, but they also need to be replaced less frequently. Some companies offer special discounts on energy saving light bulbs throughout the year. BC Hydro has partnered with retailers across BC to provide instant discounts on light bulbs, fixtures and controls.

Switch Which Appliances You Use.

When heating up your Thanksgiving leftovers, use the microwave instead of the oven, as it uses less energy. When making dinner, consider a ham, instead of turkey to decrease cooking time. We also cook in our BBQ regularly. I can make almost anything in my barbeque that I can in the oven!

Keep Your Freezer Full.

A full freezer uses less power than an empty one. If you don’t fill it with Thanksgiving leftovers and Christmas baking, fill it with milk jugs full of water.

Switch To A Laptop.

I have been using a laptop exclusively for the past 5 years. Keeping a desktop computer plugged in and running uses more electricity than a laptop. Dim the screen when you are using it and be sure to shut it off and not just hibernate when you are done using it.

Use A Powerstrip For Your Electronics.

Many electronics continue using electricity even when you aren’t physically using them. If you plug into a powerstrip and remember to turn off the whole strip, you won’t continue to drain power when they aren’t in use.

Get Smart When It Comes To Laundry.

Adding a dry towel to your standard laundry load will decrease drying time by 10%. Emptying the dryer lint trap, also cuts down on drying time and saves power too!

Take some time to walk through your house and considering making some small changes in order to make a huge impact.

BC Hydro wants all British Columbians to become more smart with their power. Explore energy-efficient tips, deals and rebates, play the Offtober SAVERS KEEPERS game, and enter the contest to win great prizes. You could win the Grand Prize of a Samsung ENERGY STAR laundry pair,4K Ultra High-Def Smart TV and wireless BluetoothSoundbar. Plus, we’re giving away daily prizes of $100 Best Buy gift cards and Philips Hue Portable LED Smart Light Bulbs.

This post was brought to you by BC Hydro, all thoughts are our own.

What is your best energy saving tip?

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